MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management

Why choose Herts?

Industry accreditations: The University is a member of the Tourism Management Institute (TMI), Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), and the Association for Event Management Education (AEME).
Employment prospects: Graduates work as hotel customer relations managers, travel agents, and airline staff for organisations including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Expedia Group, and TUI.
Flexibility: You have the option to complete the course on fast-track in one academic year, or to complete in two-years with a choice of a work placement or advanced research.

This course is up for periodic review
To ensure this course continues to be cutting-edge and enables you to be ready for the modern workplace, it is due to be reviewed by November 2023.

Our website will typically be updated within a month of the review confirming any enhancements, including:
- module titles (and whether they are core or optional)
- expected contact hours
- assessment methods
- staff teaching on the course

The normal entry requirements for the programme are:

An honours degree of at least 2:2 classification or better from a UK University; or
The equivalent of the above from a recognised University overseas; or
A degree-equivalent professional qualification approved by the Programme Leader; or
A Pre-Masters Course recognised by the University;
A postgraduate qualification from a UK university or its equivalent from a recognised overseas university, or
Equivalent qualifications to be assessed by the Programme Leader and Admissions Tutor.

English Language entry requirements

In addition all students for whom English is not their first language must produce evidence of their English Language proficiency. The standard required is an IELTS score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each band), or an equivalent score on a test recognised by the University of Hertfordshire.

This requirement will be waived if the student has successfully completed an undergraduate degree at a university in the United Kingdom, or another All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency. The following qualifications and grades will be considered:
- GCSE English language grade A-C
- IELTS 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in any band)
Other English language tests are accepted. Please contact the International Office for details.


Institution code	H36
School of study	Hertfordshire Business School
Course length	Full Time, 1 Years Part Time, 2 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Employability

Careers

We are preparing graduates for successful careers in the hospitality, recreation or tourism industries or in an associated government agency with an international, national or local focus. Graduates from the programme are employed by international hotel chains (Four Seasons Hotel, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, The Ritz Carlton, Starwood Hotel Group) in China, India Macau, Thailand and Great Britain, as well as working for independent hotels and Event Management companies in Great Britain. Other careers pursued by our Graduates include Recruitment Agents, Lecturers and entrepreneurs (travel company, import and export trading company).

What job can I get?

Graduates will be prepared to follow a career in events planning, hospitality and tourism management as well as marketing, often working for event management organisations, large travel companies, hospitality businesses and airlines. Graduates will be equipped for this type of job thanks to the analytical skills and required industry and managerial knowledge that they will have acquired through their studies with us. These will support them in the decision-making which is essential when working as managers of the tourism, hospitality and event industries.

Work placement

Full time students on the sandwich route will be expected to take a minimum of 36 weeks full time work placement.

You must pass all the modules in Semester A to proceed onto the placement. For students with visa restrictions, the placement would need to take place within the UK. You will typically need to secure a placement by the end of April in their first academic year of study, in order to process the necessary paperwork required.

The ‘Sandwich’ award requires you to successfully complete a minimum of 36 weeks full-time work placement, submit acceptable milestone reports during the placement as part of their ‘Professional Work Placement’ module, and pass the ‘Work Placement Portfolio’ module at the start of their final semester. You will need to identify and apply for their placements, and are supported in this by the UH Careers and Employment Service, and the School’s ‘Preparation for Work’ module.

Professional Accreditations

The University is member of the Tourism Management Institute (TMI), Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and the Association for Event Management Education (AEME).

About the course

View course structure

MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management has been designed to provide you with the enhanced skills and knowledge which are necessary to support key decision-making within the international tourism, hospitality and event industries. The programme is underpinned by a strong theoretical base across a number of contexts relevant to tourism, hospitality and event management in contemporary international environments. A distinctive feature of this programme is that it offers you opportunities to interact with current industry practitioners and therefore enables a hands-on approach.

The programme is offered full time (1 year mode) or part time (2 year mode). A new sandwich version is also offered in full time on a 2 year mode. The sandwich programme requires you to successfully complete a minimum of 36 weeks full-time work placement. This is a very valuable experience which allows you to familiarise themselves with the day to day activities of Tourism, Hospitality and Event businesses, and to use your initiative in dealing with issues of the work environment.

Why choose this course?

Our Postgraduate studies are sector leading amongst over 100 Higher Education Institutions in the UK as evidenced by our extraordinary achievement:

1st out of 85 universities for business and management in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES, Advance HE, 2023)
1st for Skills Development, 2nd for Support, Resources, Community and Assessment (Advance HE, 2023)

The course offers you comprehensive knowledge of the Tourism, Hospitality and Event industries.
It is delivered by a very successful and internationally renowned team of experts, both in terms of their managerial experience and academic knowledge.
It offers a balance of practical input and academic knowledge to support graduates in their future careers within these industries.
It provides opportunities to interact with current industry practitioners.
It presents flexibility to study full time, part time and it offers the possibility to undertake a work placement.

What will I study?

We offer a varied programme of teaching that includes facilitated seminars, practical workshops, projects for companies, web-based learning, case study analysis and traditional lectures. We also provide sessions by visiting staff, practitioners and consultants to give a varied perspective of the topics covered. You will be assessed through a variety of coursework including presentations, reports and projects. You will also be required to complete a dissertation and will be supported by a dissertation supervisor.

Work Based Learning

The MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Events (Sandwich) programme incorporates a one-year work placement of a minimum of 36 weeks full time work experience. Students must normally achieve a Semester A grade average of 60% to proceed onto the placement. For students with visa restrictions, the placement would need to take place within the UK. Students will typically need to secure a placement by the end of April in their first academic year of study, in order to process the necessary paperwork required.

The ‘Sandwich’ award requires students to successfully complete a minimum of 36 weeks full-time work placement, submit acceptable milestone reports during the placement as part of their ‘Professional Work Placement’ module, and pass the ‘Work Placement Portfolio’ module at the start of their final semester. Students identify and apply for their placements, and are supported in this by the UH Careers and Employment Service, and the School’s ‘Preparation for Work’ module.

Level 7

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
International Business Strategy	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module explores the challenges faced by international firms in building and sustaining competitive advantage within a complex, uncertain and rapidly changing global business environment. It will use a range of theoretical tools and concepts to explore the meaning of both quantitative and qualitative case study evidence. Students will examine how and why firms develop a range of strategic approaches to international business challenges, balancing a consideration of internal organisational influences and stakeholder pressures against an evaluation of the impact of competitive rivalry and broader environmental forces. A range of theoretical perspectives and debates will highlight the conflicting tensions felt by managers engaged in the international business strategy process, particularly the tension between demands to be responsive to national differences and economic pressures while also becoming more efficient and globally integrated. Students will generate and critically assess a range of strategic options available to managers in specific case situations.
Accounting and Finance in the Organisation	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module is designed to enable you to become more confident in the use and limitations of financial information and, thus, interact more effectively with both financial and non-financial management. You will learn how to assess and use financial information - both that provided by others to assist the management of the organisation and that which you will need to develop plans and solve business problems. A practical approach will be used. The use of scenario exercises and case studies will enable you to acquire and develop new financial skills and understand how to use them in a practical context. It will normally be workshop-based. Delivery is flexible and, for example, it may be possible to complete the classroom-based part of the entire module in a three day block or in the traditional single semester mode.
Research Methods for Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module explores key tourism, hospitality and event management theory through an examination of research in practice. Students will critically analyse the research design of authors in the field as they learn the benefits and drawbacks of various primary and secondary research philosophies and methods. As an integral component of the dissertation, this module expects students to undertake effective research drawing upon a range of secondary data sources in preparation of coursework. As well as delivering an underpinning framework for the study of tourism, hospitality and event management, this module is geared towards successful preparation and completion of high quality, rigorous and systematic social and/or management research required for a dissertation and is relevant to the successful completion of coursework.
Contemporary Themes: Tourism/Hospitality/Event Management	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module provides students with the opportunity to explore the nature and structure of the tourism, hospitality and event industries. By considering how these industries operate, students will analyse current trends within a variety of contexts such as: geographical (human and natural resources; trends and flows); economic (evaluating the contribution of the tourism, hospitality and event industries); socio-cultural (the impacts of these industries on the social and cultural fabric of destinations); technology (the advancement and impacts on consumer and organisational behaviour); global outlook (dynamic change and implications for the tourism, hospitality and event industries), research techniques and academic writing.
Marketing and Technology for Tourism, Hospitality and Events	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module considers the implications for more traditional marketing concepts such as branding, the Marketing Mix, market segmentation, Integrated Marketing Communications, Customer Relationship Management, consumer behaviour and their link to digital marketing. The module raises awareness of how tourism, hospitality and event management firms are transforming their business models and operations in order to incorporate digital marketing which is vital to their success in the current social and economic business environment.
People Management for the Tourism, Hospitality and Event Industries	15 Credits	Compulsory
Students examine the theory and practice of people management and development, the HRM function, and the HRM role of line managers in the context of the international tourism, hospitality and event industries. They explore the contribution of people management and development to customer satisfaction, staff satisfaction and business success in the sector, critically analysing the strategic interface between HRM activities and operations management in tourism, hospitality and events businesses. The module is closely aligned to the UH Graduate Attribute of 'Global Awareness' and 'Respect for Others', in fostering an understanding of international traditions and practices, and promoting a culture of self-awareness, empathy, cultural awareness and mutual respect, enabling our graduates to be courteous, inclusive and able to work in a wide range of cultural settings.
Crisis, Risk and Recovery for Tourism, Hospitality and Events	15 Credits	Compulsory
The literature surrounding crisis and risk management is diverse and varies from theoretical to more practical knowledge. Some of the key areas of study on this module will be specific to the sector (Tourism, Hospitality or Events Industries) or will be more generalizable across sectors. The indicative module content will be taken from the following areas of study; major incident management, disaster management, Risk identification, mitigation, and management, Concepts and Theories of Tourism Crisis and Disaster Management, Concepts and Theories of International Disaster Management: The Five Realms, Crowd safety at major events, Evacuation – types, techniques, and causes, Non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO's), Casualty handling and victim identification, Managing tourism operations during and after a disaster, CONOPS – Concept of Operation – National – Local government, Understanding Vulnerability from Geological and Meteorological Hazards, Hospitality / Hotel resilience to disasters, Air accidents, Sea – Maritime emergencies – The cruise industry, Rail accidents, Disaster Management and the Media, Destination Resilience, and finally future of disaster planning and management.
Field Research	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module is designed to provide students the opportunity to apply relevant theory to practice through involvement in field research. Field trips and organisation visits are a critical tool for creating episodic memory and the creation of memory through experience. This module provides ground-level interactions between students and managers in relevant organisations, to enhance students' learning experience and provide insights into the operations and management of tourism, hospitality and event businesses.
Management Research Report	60 Credits	Compulsory
The Management Research Report is an independent piece of work incorporating research, study and evaluation. It is the culmination of a successful Masters programme. It is underpinned by a taught module on research methods, by support material available online through the Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement (CASE), by introductory workshops, and by other taught modules on the programme. Each student is allocated a report supervisor. The Management Research Report may focus on any aspect of international business justified as relevant for research, and to the student's programme of study. It will adopt a similar structure to that of a dissertation, but with a more applied orientation relevant to business practice.

Key staff

Dr Mary Quek
Senior Lecturer, Hospitality

Dr Sofia Reino
Programme Leader
Find out more about Dr Sofia Reino

Further course information

Course fact sheets
MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management	Download

Programme specifications
MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes

Student experience

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

Find out about how we support our students

You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.

Funding and fees
Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Fees 2024
UK Students

Full time
- £11655 for the 2024/2025 academic year
Part time
- £970 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year
EU Students

Full time
- £16450 for the 2024/2025 academic year
Part time
- £1370 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year
International Students

Full time
- £16450 for the 2024/2025 academic year
Part time
- £1370 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University's Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed "When tuition fees change"), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2024

Start Date	End Date	Link
17/09/2024	30/09/2025	Apply online (Full Time)
17/09/2024	31/07/2025	Apply online (Part Time)

2025

Start Date	End Date	Link
17/09/2025	30/09/2026	Apply online (Full Time)
17/09/2025	31/07/2026	Apply online (Part Time)

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MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management

Why choose Herts?

Careers

What job can I get?

Work placement

Professional Accreditations

About the course

Why choose this course?

What will I study?

Work Based Learning

Key staff

Further course information

Student experience

Other financial support

Fees 2024

UK Students

Full time

Part time

EU Students

Full time

Part time

International Students

Full time

Part time

Living costs / accommodation

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2024

2025